“You have to start somewhere”

Ben Cohen clocked in at McDonald’s as a cashier, drove a taxi cab, and filled a security guard position prior to becoming a teacher. He eventually became one half of Vermont’s Ben & Jerry’s.

We are currently working hard to find great placements for the area’s soon-to-be college graduates. Our goal is to place them in a position that will provide a valuable learning experience and foster career growth. As their searches progress, we find ourselves offering the same words of career-related advice to area college seniors: you must start your career somewhere.

With such a strong drive to succeed post-graduation, college graduates are hungry for a career. While they’re motivated, there’s also a degree of hesitation that comes with accepting any first job out of college. Things like starting salary and location can land any new grad on the fence; perhaps the job duties do not seem ideal, or the hours aren’t appealing. One of the first and most important questions we ask a candidate is, “what is your ideal position or career?” As recruiters we act on this answer and work with candidates only on positions that are fitting or appealing. Many times we propose an opportunity that we feel would be a great stepping stone, but our candidates are unsure about the commitment. It’s a tough spot to be in, as job opportunities do not remain open for very long and there’s little time to ponder an offer that’s on the table. If a position absolutely does not meet the candidate’s expectations, we move on to the next potential opportunity. This can take up valuable time, and lead to frustration as graduation day draws near.

It’s crucial not to be too choosy during a tough job market, particularly if you’re aiming to get your career off the ground. While taking the first offer may not be the best move, passing up two or three that do not seem ideal but would be a great step toward the right career with the right company, networking opportunities, and room for potential growth can be a devastating blow to one’s early career.

Keeping an open mind, being flexible, staying positive and being aggressive in your search will likely lead to a great opportunity. Here are some additional tips to keep in mind as you are progressing through an entry-level job search:

1. Stay active on LinkedIn. Connect with others in your industry, follow companies that interest you, network through private messaging and local discussion boards, share articles pertinent to your field of industry, and keep your profile up to date.

2. Keep your resume polished. It’s always worth a second, third, and fourth look to clean up grammar, spelling and formatting issues. Ask someone else to take a look at it as well.

3. Seek internship opportunities. Every situation is different, but an internship – paid or unpaid, depending on your needs – is one of the best options to consider as a first step toward a rewarding career.